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1930 Map of La Jolla

Name: 1930 Topographic Map of La Jolla
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Camp Kearney sits at the center of this coastal landscape, marking a period of significant military and infrastructure development between the two World Wars. The coastal edge is defined by early twentieth-century growth in La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and Delmar, connected by the Surf Line and the Santa Fe railroad. The map reveals the early footprint of San Diego's northern expansion, from the established streets of Old Town and North San Diego to isolated settlements like Miramar and Merton.

The topography is dominated by an intricate network of deep canyons, including Los Penasquitos Canyon and San Clemente Canyon, which dictated the early transportation routes and settlement patterns. To the east, the terrain rises toward Cowles Mt. and Black Mt., while the San Diego River and San Dieguito River carve broad valleys that would eventually become primary corridors for the region's suburban sprawl. Historical landmarks like the Ex Mission San Diego provide a direct link to the area's colonial foundations amidst the emerging modern grid.